Crew captures two first place finishes

Juli Walsh

This past weekend the women’s crew team competed in their second competition of the season at the Navy Day Regatta, which took place on the Schuylkill River.

The team brought home two victories in the 2.5 mile race as the Lightweight Eight and Dad Vail Eight boats both placed first in their respective heats. The Lightweight Eight finished with a time of 18:24.6 minutes, while the Dad Vail Eight’s time of 15:29.9 beat the second place team, Temple University, by 30 seconds. In addition to Temple, Villanova also competed against St. Joe’s and Navy.

“The Navy Day Regatta this weekend was really the first chance for the team to work together in a race setting, and get a feel for how the rest of the fall season will play out,” sophomore Kristen Stegeland, a member of the Light Eight team, said. “At the end of the day since both eight-boats left with first-place medals, the team has gotten pumped and is looking forward to the upcoming season.”

While the majority of students were able to go home for rest and relaxation, the members of the crew team spent their fall break training harder than ever to prepare for their upcoming competitions. Through rain and cold weather, the team went out on the water twice a day, every day, and ultimately, the intense effort paid off.

“After a whole week of relentless workouts, and even though our legs felt like jello, we still had the courage and overall will to push through the pain and finish on top,” junior Taylor Malloy said. “It’s always a good day when you pulverize St. Joe’s and Temple.”

Malloy rowed on the Dad Veil Eight boat, along with Meg Walsh, Shel Lapp, Elena McDermott, Kathleen O’Connell, Diana Drvostep, Elizabeth Jackson, Elysse Voyer and Sarah Callahan, who was the coxswain for the team.

The Wildcats also entered two boats in the Collegiate Fours race, which had 15 teams competing. After surviving some rough waters, the “B” boat crossed the line in 17:25.3 for a third place finish, while the “A” boat placed 11th, coming in only a minute and half later.

“There were waves crashing into us from all angles, even going over the strokes’ head,” Malloy, who also raced as a member of the “B” boat team said.

The crew team’s next competition is this Saturday and Sunday in Boston at the Head of the Charles Regatta, where they will again enter in the Collegiate Eight and the Lightweight Eight races.